Modular dish washer rack



y 4, 1966 ETAL 3, 5 ,5

MODULAR DISH WASHER BACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filezi Aug. 5,

WVENTQRS. SQL. KEQHLNZAN HYMAN B. PENN MQLTGN KRAVITZ ATTORNEYS.

May 24, 1966 s. KESILMAN ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 3, 1965 INNTORS.

S KESILMAN HYMAN B. PENN MILTON KRAVITZ ATTORNEYS.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

S. KESILMAN ETAL MODULAR DISH WASHER RACK May 24, 1966 Filed Aug. 5,1965 United States Patent Ofilice 3,252,582 Patented May 24, 19663,252,582 MODULAR DISH WASHER RACK Sol Kesihnan, 7930 Oak Hili Drive,Cheltenham, Pin; Hyman B. Penn, 435 Tickenham Road, Gleuside, Pa.; andMilton Kravitz, 6710 Large St, Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Aug. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 476,910 8 Claims. (Cl. 211-71) Thisinvention relates to a modular dish washer rack and is acontinuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 351,383filed March 12, 1964,-for Commercial Dish Washer" Rack.

With the trend in the restaurant and allied trades towards automaticequipment in washing dishes and utensils,

v the practice of employing racks for holding the dishes,

cups, glasses, utensils and other items that are to be washed and thendried by the automatic equipmenthas greatly increased.

In our copending application, a commercial dish washer rack is providedwhich has, inter alia, the advantage of being selectively stackable inone of two positions, a high or a low position. The commercial dishwasher rack also has the advantage of being extremely efficient inplacing a maximum amount of items to be washed in the automaticequipment at a given time. Circulation of the hot or cold cleansingwater with or without detergents or soap as well as drying air is alsoenhanced by providing sufiicient space therefor.

The commercial dish washer rack in our copending application hasperipheral edges along the sides thereof and includes a relativelyshallow channel construction therein. Also provided in portions of thechannel construction are open areas of greater depth. These areas are inpart defined by locating posts that project upwardly from the corners ofthe rack. The locating posts are designed in such a manner that when tworacks of the present invention are vertically aligned and stacked oneupon the other, that the posts either abut at least one of the spacermembers along the lower peripheral edges of the channel areas comprisingthe sides of the rack or penetrate in the deeper areas, dependent uponthe relative orientation of the two racks with respect to each other. Inthe latter position, the entire rail abuts against the spacer members.When the two racks are oriented in the same manner with respect to eachother, the locating posts penetrate into the aforesaid deeper areasbetween them and thus the two racks are stacked relatively close to eachother. In this position the racks are said to be in a low stackedposition. By rotation of the racks in either direction 90 with respectto each other, the locating posts of the lower rack are not able topenetrate beyond the channel areas and thus the racks are stackedrelatively far apart or in the high stacked position.

In accordance with our present invention, overlay modules are providedwhich are used to increase the height of the sidewalls of the rack inaccordance with the Y restaurants requirements.

At the manufacturing level, the need has been recognized for a dishwasher rack which may be built up to variable wall heights so that thevarious needs of the restaurants or other customers may be accommodated.However, while various heights and sizes of dish washing racks may berequired by the restaurants, etc., it would be prohibitively expensivefor a manufacturer to have equipment for each size of rack necessary.

That is, in dish washing, a variety of shapes and sizes must be handledbecause of the diiferent sizes in plates, saucers, bowls and cups. Thereare also tall and short glasses, as well as long stemmed glasses withlarge bases and short stemmed glasses with small bases. It is ordinarilynot practical for manufacturers to have a mold specially designed tomake each type of rack necessary.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide amodular dish washer rack which will accommodate the various requirementsof the restaurants and allied trades.

Another object of the invention is to provide various standard moduleswhich may be selectively stacked together to form a suitable commercialdish washer rack to accommodate the specific needs of the customer.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modulardish washer rack which is comprised of a combination of selected moduleswhich may be stacked together in order to accommodate articles such ascups, or taller articles such as tall cups and glasses.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide specialholding means comprising a pin which may be driven through adjacentmodules to fasten the various parts together.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular dishwasher rack of extremely versatile construction such that manufacturingthereof is facilitated by the modular elements thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular dishwasher rack that is so constructed that the vertically aligned modulesmay be stacked in various combinations dependent on the demands of aparticular situation.

The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention are achieved byproviding a modular commercial dish washer rack which is comprised of abottom module and at least one overlay module positioned on the bottommodule. The bottom module comprises a network base having peripheralsides each of which include base top rails. The overlay includesperipheral sides which are comprised of inner and outer panelsassociated with an overlay top rail. The panels also define a channel.The overlay is positioned on the bottom module so that the base top railnests Within the channel of the overlay. Holding means are also providedfor securing the modules together so that racks of various heights maybe formed.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view taken from the top face of amodular dishwasher rack embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the modular dishwasherrack embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a long pin holding means used forlocking together modules of the dish washer rack;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a short pin holding means used forlocking together modules of the dishwasher rack;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an overlay module embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another overlay module embodying theinvention which includes compartmentation;

FIG. 8 is an view of the modular dishwasher rack shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 9 is an exploded fragmentary side elevational view of an alternatearrangement of the modules comprising the modular dishwasher rack.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures explodedfragmentary side elevational' of the drawing wherein like referencecharacters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 a modulardishwasher rack which embodies the invention. Device 10 comprises abottom module 12 and overlays 14, 16 and 18 (FIG. 2).

Bottom module 12 shown in FIG. lis adapted to support glasses or cupsand comprises a.network area 20 surrounded by four peripheral walls, twoof which, namely walls 22 and 24, are shown in FIG. 1. The walls 22 and24 and the other two walls of the rack are comprised of inner and outerelongated panels 26 and 28 that are generally vertically disposedalthough slightly inclined towards each other at their upper ends. Thewalls are further associated with a U-shaped top rail 30 that is held bymeans of thin spacers 32 in an appropriate position which issubstantially parallel and coextensive with the inner and outer panels26 and 28. Spacers 32 are integral with the inner and outer panels 26and 28 and are disposed in planes substantially perpendicular to theaforementioned panels. The spacers are somewhat elongated and haveparallel top and bottom edges with the side edges being slightlyinclined towards each other at their upper ends. The bottom module 12 ispreferably comprised of a plastic component, such as polypropylene, andis integrally molded in a suitable manner.

As discussed hereinafter, panels 26 and 28 define a space between themwhich enhances drainage of water and natural circulation of air. Thespace also assists in the stacking function which is also discussedhereinafter. As further shown in FIG. -1, the lower edge of the spacers32 in combination with panels 26 and 28 form a peripheral channel aboutthe lower periphery of the bottom module 12. The channel-like lower edge34 functions as a locating means in providing a reception area for theU-shaped top rail of a rack of similar construction upon which the rackof FIG. 1 is stacked.

At each corner of 'the bottom module, projecting upwardly from the toprail 30 is a post 36. The post 36 is L-shaped in that it comprises ashort run or minor portion 38 adjacent and along wall 22 and a longerrun or major portion 40 adjacent and along wall 24. These L-shaped postsenable the selective low position or high position stacking as disclosedin said application Serial No. 351,383.

That is, if a module is placed on another module with the L-shaped postsaligned with respect to each other such that the long run is over thelong run of the adjacent posts, the post of the lower module penetratesthe upper post somewhat deeply thereby enabling the adjacent modules tobe closely stacked. Conversely, if one module is rotated 90 with respectto the other, the long run of one is aligned with the short run of theother preventing substantial penetration of the upper post by the lowerpost. Thus, the'top of thelower post penetrates only the channel 34 inthe bottom edge of the module.

The network area 20 shown in FIG. 1 comprises end ridges 42 and 44 whichare perpendicular to the wall 22 and parallel to wall 24. The networkarea also includes ridges 46 which are perpendicular to and between endridges 42. Ridges 46 are laterally spaced substantially equidistant fromeach other. A first set of diagonal ridges 48 are disposed in verticalplanes displaced substantially from the planes of ridges 46. A secondset of diagonal ridges 50 are substantially perpendicular to thediagonal ridges 48 and intersect therewith. The bottom module 12 furtherincludes index strips 52 on each side of the network area 20. Thesestrips are perpendicular to and extend from the ridges 42 and 44.

At the intersections of the ridges 46 and the diagonal ridges 48 and 50are lugs 54. Each of these lugs have apertures 56 therein. As will beseen hereinafter, the purpose of the openings 56 in the lugs 54 is toreceive the compartmentation of the upper modules which is presented tothe bottom module 12 in the form of an overlay module. The index strips52'have openings 58 formed therein and openings 60 provided between theindex strips. There are also considerable open areas between the networkareas which in combination with these aforementioned apertures permitdrainage and enhance circulation of wash water and permit thecirculation of natural air currents.

The overlay modules 14, 16 and 18 are similar to each other. Overlaymodule 18 is shown in FIG. 6 and comprises sides 62, 64, 66 and 68. Eachof the sides comprises an elongated, U-shaped cross-sectioned rail. Ateach corner of module 18 is an upstanding post 69. These posts aresimilar to the posts 36 of the bottom module 12 and comprise majorportions 71 which are adjacent and run along the parallel sides 64 and68 and minor portions 73 which are adjacent and run along the sides 62and 66.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the posts 36- and 69 taper upwardly so that theymay be nested in and over the Various posts of other modules. Also, thesides 62, 6'4, 66 and 68 flare downwardly in cross-section as best seenin FIG. 5. Thus, where the posts 36 and 69 are not aligned major portionto major portion, but rather major portion to minor portion, the majorportion of the lower post cannot penetrate substantially the upper postand thus nests inthe side of the overlay module 18. Overlay module 18 isthus used with the bottom modules to increase the height of the walls ofthe dishwasher rack assembly.

Where compartmentation is required, an overlay module 14 is provided.Overlay module 14 is best shown in FIG. 7 and has compartmentation 70but is otherwise similar to module 18 shown in FIG. 6 and referencecharacters corresponding to the ones used in FIG. 6 are also used inFIG. 7. In particular, the overlay module 18 includesside walls 62, 64,66 and 68 and posts 69. The compartmentation 70 comprises Webs 72 whichare parallel to sides 62 and 66 and are perpendicular to and betweensides 64 and 68. Webs 74 are also provided which are parallel to sides64 and 68 and are perpendicular to and between sides 62 and 66. Webs 72are laterally spaced equidistantly from each other as are webs 74.

Extending downwardly from each of the webs 72 and 74 are spacer tongues76 which prevent contact of the articles in adjacent compartments. It isto be understood that the precise number of webs 72 and 74 may be varieddependent on the number of compartments desired. For instance, as shownin FIG. 7, the compartmentation 70 is such that there are 36compartments. However, this may be easily decreased to 20 compartmentsby making the compartmentation sub-divided into five rows of fourcornpartments. In a similar manner, the compartmentation may bedecreased to 16, 25 or 30 compartments, etc. In general, largercompartments are utilized to hold bowls and other broad articles withthe smaller compartments utilized to hold glasess, depending upon thewidest dimensions of the glasses to be washed.

The remaining overlay module 16'is identical to overlay module 14 in allrespects with the exception that the spacer tongues 78 shown in FIG. 1which depend upon webs 72 and 74 are shorter than the spacer tongues 76of the overlaymodule 14. Thus, where it is desired to havecompartmentation in the overlay module and the overlay module is to beused in the low stacking position with respect to the lower overlaymodule, the overlay module 16 with short tongues 78 should be used.However, when it is desired to place a module with compartmentation in ahigh stacking position with respect to the lower overlay module, theoverlaymodule 14 is preferable because it has longer spacer tongues 76.

The modular dish washer rack comprised of the various modules 12, 14, 16and 18 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly adapted for tall slimglasses or for long stemmed glasses with a broad base. Thus, wherea'consumer, such as a restaurant, requires a dish washer rack for tallslim glasses, the manufacturer would use the four modules shown in thefigures and place them together as shown. That is, the overlay module 14would be placed over a bottom module 12. The overlay module 16 wouldthen be placed over the overlay module 14. Then the overlay module 18would be placed on overlay module 16. l-n order to secure the fourmodules together, pin 80 shown in FIG. 3 is provided.

Pin 80 is preferably plastic and comprises a conically shaped leadingsection 82 which tapers at its end. A cylindrical shank 84- having adiameter smaller than the base of leading section 82 is concentricallysecured to the base of leading section 82. Groove 84 extends to acylindrical shank 86. The axis of shank 86 is concentric with that ofgroove 84.

Shank 86 has at its upper end a flaring section 88 which is shaped likethe frustum of a cone. The diameter of the lower portion of the shank 86is slightly larger than the base of section 82.

A shank 90 similar to shank 86 is connected thereto via a groove92'which is similar to but slightly larger in diameter than groove 84.Shank 90 also has a flaring section at its upper end 94. End 94 is alsoshaped similar to the frustum of a cone. The groove 92 is smaller indiameter than the shank 90.

An enlarged head 96 is connected to the shank 90 via groove 98. Thediameter of groove 98 is not as large as the base of enlarged head 96.Thus, three peripheral grooves are formed in pin 80. The purpose ofthese grooves will appear hereinafter.

Before the modules are placed together, vertically aligned holes areprovided in the top webs 100 to 103 (FIG. 5) of the U-shaped top railswhich form the sides of the modules 12, 14, 16 and 18. As seen in FIG.5, pins 80 are driven through the vertically aligned holes to keep themodules together.

Due to the resiliency of the material comprising the rails, after thelarger shanks 86 and 90 have passed through the webs, the materialdeforms and encompasses the grooves 84, 92 and 98. That is, as leadingsection 82 passes through the holes, the apertures are enlarged in orderto allow the head to pass through. As the rear edge of the leadingsection passes through the web, the web relaxes thereby restoring thesize of the hole. The holes are larger in the upper modules so that theshank 86 may pass through them without difliculty after the holes inwebs 102 and 103 return to their normal size. Thus, leading section 82and shank 86 pass through the web 103 in module 18 without substantiallydeforming the holes therein. Similarly, the bottom portion 86 and theleading section 82 pass through the apertures in module 16 withoutsubstantially deforming the upper web thereof.

However, the openings in the webs of modules 12 and 14 are smaller thanthe base of the leading section 82 and are therefore stretched asleading section 82 is driven through. As the section 82 is drivencompletely through the webs 100 and 101 of modules 12 and 14, the websreturn to their regular shape thereby enclosing shank 84. The lower edgeof shank 86 abuts the top surface of web 101 of module 14 and the basesurface of leading section 82 abuts the lowersurface of the top. web 100of top rail 30 of module 12. Similarly, the web 102 of module 16embraces shank 92 and web 102 of module 18 G to use the shorter pin 104.Where a larger number of modules would be used to comprise a dish washerrack larger pins would be necessary.

It is, of course, understood that various combinations of modules can beused to form a dish washer rack.

To further secure the structure, various of the depending tongues of thecompartmentation of the module 14 are heat sealed as at 106 (FIG. 1) inthe apertures 56 of the lugs 54. The bottom of the leading section 82may also be heatsealed to the U-shaped rail 30 adjacent the bottomsurface of web 100 thereby further preventing removal of the pin 80 fromthe structure.

In FIG. 9, there is shown an exploded view of the same modules as thoseused in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 but in a diilerent order. Themodules 16 and 18 are interchanged and the remainder is otherwisesimilar. In this embodiment, the dish washer rack is adapted to handlelong stemmed glasses with large bases. The compartmentation in themodule 16 prevents the top portion of the long stemmed glasses frombumping against each other and breaking. Thus, it is apparent that theinterchangeability of the modules provides the dish washer rack withversatility in adapting to a large range of situations.

This invention is in no wise limited to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1which is adapted for glasses and cups. It should be apparent thatvarious bottom section modules may be used. For instance, the dishwasher rack type module shown in FIG. 1A of the aforementioned parentapplication may be used with various overlay modules to increase thewall heights of that dish washer rack.

Thus, a modular dishwasher rack which is of extremely versatileconstruction has been described. It is seen that case of manufacture isaccomplished by providing standard modules which may be combinatoriallyused with each other to adapt to various requirements of restaurants andother establishments. The modules are so shaped that circulation of hotand cold cleansing water as well as drying air is enhanced. Further, theoverlay modules enable the modular dish Washer rack to be extremelyeflicient when placing the'maximum amount of items to be washed at agiven time. In addition, an extremely eflicient dish washer rack isprovided which is inexpensive to manufacture.

embraces shank 98 of the pin 80. The modules are thus secured togetherto form the modular commercial dish washer rack.

Smaller or larger pins may be provided where different numbers ofmodules are placed together. A shorter pin 104 is shown in FIG. 4. Pin104 is similar to the pin 80 in various respects. It has a leadingsection 82, and shanks 84, 86 and 92 identical to the similarly numberedshanks of pin 80 in FIG. 3. Whereas pin 80 has an upper shank 90connected to the shank 92, pin 104 has an enlarged head 96 connectedthereto. Thus, if it is desired to build a modular dish washer rackwhich needs only three modules to complete the rack, it would benecessary Furthermore, the pins permanently fasten the stacked modulestogether. The pins and the holes in the top rails of each of the modulesare so dimensioned that the pin can be dropped into place except throughthe last short distance through which it is forcibly driven. Inparticular, with reference to FIG. 5 of the drawing, the hole in Web 103of the uppermost top rail 66 of module 18 is of essentially the samediameter as shank 90. The hole in Web 102 of the top rail 66 of module16 is of essentially the same diameter as shank 86. The base of theleading section 82 is slightly smaller than the shank 86. The holes inwebs 100 and 101 in the top rails of modules 12 and 14,

respectively, are smaller than the base of leading section 82. Thus, theleading section 82 of pin passes easily through Web 103 and through web102. Similarly, the shank 86 passes through webs 103 and 102. Shankpasses only through web 103.

Thus, the pin 80 passes through the vertically aligned holes in therespective webs 102 and .103 so that, prior to being driven through thefinal distance, the leading section 82 is adjacent the upper surface ofWeb 101. At this time, the lowermost edge of frustum shaped section 88is adjacent the upper surface of web 102 and the lowermost edge offrustum shaped section 94 is adjacent the upper surface of web 103. Thedriving of the pin 80 in a downward direction, thus, causes thesimultaneous pene-' tration of the three tapered sections 82, 88 and 94through their respective holes. As the largest section or base of thesetaperspasses through the webs, the webs are restored and thereby preventthe removal of the pin. The

modules are thus permanently fastened by a plurality of these pinstioned'on said bottom module, said bottom module comprising a networkbase having peripheral sides each of which include .base top rails, atleast the first of said overlays including peripheral sides which arecomprised of inner and outer panels associated .with an overlay toprail,

'said panels also defining a channel, said first overlay beingpositioned on said bottom module so that said base top rail nests withinsaid channel, and meansfor holding said modules together so that racksof various heights may be formed.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said overlay module includescompartmentation. I

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for holding said modulestogether comprises a pin driven through the channels of said overlay andsaid bottom module. 7

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said pin comprises a leading sectionat .a first end which is tapered at said end and at least oneshankconnected thereto via a groove of smaller diameter, said shankbeing flared at its upper end, and an enlarged head at said other endwhereby said modules are held between said head and said leadingsection.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said overlay agl base top rails havevertically aligned holes, said holes of said overlays being equal .to orlarger than each of the holes in the modules stacked below, said pinsbeing so dimensioned that they may be dropped into place through theupper holes adjacent theirfinal position and are driven a shortdistanceito their final position.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein the shanks of said 'pin areessentially the same diameter as the hole in "the overlay adjacent andabove said shanks. 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of saidmodules includes locating posts at each corner,'said posts beingL-shaped, said modules being stacked relatively-close'to-- gether whensaid posts are aligned and relatively far apart when said L-shaped postsare not-aligned so that said racks are adapted to accommodate short ortall objects.

8. A two position stackable commercial dish washer rack'havingperipheral sides and a network area for bolding articles to be washed,certain of the sides of the rack being defined by inner and outer panelsassociated with a top rail, locating posts projecting from said toprail, said inner and outer panels defining a space with limiting meanspositioned therein to limit the penetration of locating postsofanother'di-sh washer rack to a relatively small amount so that theracks are stacked relatively far apart in a first stacking position,certain of the area adjacent said posts being free ofsaid limitingmeans, and certain other References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,840,256 6/ 1958 Cobb 220-21 X 2,931,535 4/1960 Lockwood220--97 3,160,308 12/1964 Hare et al 2201'9 CLAUDE A. ROY, PrimaryExaminer. -R. P. SEITTER, .AssistantgExaminer.

1. A MODULAR COMMERCIAL DISH WASHER RACK COMPRISING A BOTTOM MODULE, ANDAT LEAST ONE OVERLAY MODULE POSITIONED ON SAID BOTTOM MODULE, SAIDBOTTOM MODULE COMPRISING A NETWORK BASE HAVING PERIPHERAL SIDES EACH OFWHICH INCLUDE BASE TOP RAILS, AT LEAST THE FIRST OF SAID OVERLAYSINCLUDING PERIPHERAL SIDES WHICH ARE COMPRISED OF INNER AND OUTER PANELSASSOCIATED WITH AN OVERLAY TOP RAIL, SAID PANELS ALSO DEFINING ACHANNEL, SAID FIRST OVERLAY BEING POSITIONED ON SAID BOTTOM MODULE SOTHAT SAID BASE TOP RAIL NESTS WITHIN SAID CHANNEL, AND MEANS FOR HOLDINGSAID MODULES TOGETHER SO THAT RACKS OF VARIOUS HEIGHTS MAY BE FORMED.